Multiple-circuit switch



. 1 ,626,233 B. E. GETCHELL uumlr-LE CIRCUIT SWITCH April 26 1 927.

n Filed April 25. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIII Aprilv 26, 1927.

B. E. GETCHELL MULTIPLE CIRCUIT SWITCH lPatented Apr'. 26, 19,27.

UNITED STATES BENJAMLN E; eErCnELI., oF PLAINVILLE,

PATENT OFFICE.

CONNECTICUT; AssIeNon To rms: rum;-

' BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, v0F PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, .A

CORPORATION F CONNECTICUT.-

MULTIPLE-CIRCUIT SWITCH.

-Application led April 25,

Myinvention relates to switches for the contiol yof a plurality ofcircuits and has for its main object to provide a switch `in which twocircuits are automatically.

opened .in` case of an overload in either one. e

Another object is to provide a switch of this character which can bereset or r f stored without the trouble, hazard and expense of renewingfuses.

Another object is to provide a switch of .this character which cannot beheld Iclosed against dangerous overload or short circuit.

Another object is lto provide an overload switch of this characterwithout requiring the use of magnetic coils of any description.

Another object is 'to provide a switch of this characterin which thereis a sufficient time lag to prevent unnecessary opening .of` thecircuits on temporary non-dangerous overloads.

Another object is to provide a hand operkable switch of this characterinvk whichthe circuit may be automatically opened in case of' anoverload in either of `two circuits.

The preferred form of mechanism which I have designed employs in eachcircuit a switch unit having a movable switch arm, .an operating leverconnected to the'switch arm b a tovffl'e device and a tliermostaticelement for operating the toggle device. The operating levers areconnected by a manually operable device and ythe parts are soconstructed a d arranged that in case of an koverload* rougheither-switch unit the thermostatic device opens the circuit of thatswitch unit and-causes a throwing spring' .to move the partsso as tosimultaneously open the circuit throughl the .other switch E I havelshown the vinvention 'as applied to an enclosed type switch `but itshould be' understood that the invention is not limited to such aconstruction and that it isnot limited to the details herein )shown anddescribed.

Fig.T lis a front viewv of a switch embodying improvements of anenclosed type.

'switch of my invention4` the Vcover being omitted.

Fig. 2 a. longitudinal sectional View one in detail.

1925. Serial No. 25,773.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the switch` unit in the closed circuitposition.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the switch parts' in they position theywould occupy when the circuit has just been automatically opened.

Fig. 8 is a, perspective view of the switch embodied in a casing, thecover being shown open.

`Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the thermostaticelement and connections. i

lIn the -form shown the switch elements are supported by an insulatingbase 10 and consist in this instance of two'circ'uit breaking units l1and A12. The operating crank 13 may be of any suitablefcharacter andprovided with anl external operating handle i 14.` While the inventioniswnot limited to an enclosed switch I have shown a box having a body l5with a hinged cover 16. qThis particular switch is intended `for a'three wire system in which the units 11 and 12 control the positive andnegative circuits and the neutral line passes through the connectingstrip 17 Since the switch units are identical it will be necessary toillustrateand describe only Each switch unit Yhas a hinged CrsWingingContact member or arm 18 and a :relatively stationary but yieldingcontact 19. /The details of the preferred contacts are more fully shownfand described and claimed in my cospending application No. 20,611 filedApril 4, 1925. In

thisparticular form a Contact arm 18 isv pivotally supported by la post20 which is` secured to the base 10 by means of a screw 21. A spring l22 tends to move the switch arm 18 to the open circuit position of Fig.5.

. to the contact 19 extends freely through av hole in the bracket 23vand has a spring 26 which holds the contact 19 yieldingly in place. Inorder to ensure a good electrical connection between the contact 19aiidthe terminal 27 I prefer to connect the contact to the terminal bymeans of a-flexible conducting strip 28. In closing the switch to theposition shown in Fig. 6 the tip of the contact arm 18 torces thecontact 19 outwardly and the Contact 19 is' yieldingly pressed againstthe tip of the contact armin a direction .approximately radial.

The switch unit is provided with a-n in.-l sulating rocker 29 which ispivoted on-the pin 30 in the post 31. The latter is secured to the base.by a screw 32 which also holds in place the circuit terminal 33. Thislever 29 has a slotted engagement with the operating crank 13. It isalso connected to .'the'switch larm 18 by means of a to gle memberconsisting of the links 34 an 35 which are hinged together.

'A spring joint 36 tends`v to hold the lever 29 and the^link 34resiliently in the position shown in Fig. 5. The roller 37 at the hingedjoint ofthe toggle member is adapted to roll along the abutment 38 whenthe crank 13 is moved manualli to close the circuit. This abutment 38 taes up the thrust of the link 34 as the lever 29 1s oscillated righthanded as shown in Fig. 5.

,The abutment member 38 is formed of thermostatic material adapted tobend or warp when heated by the passage of an overload current as shownin Fig. 7.v This thermostatic member is of U-shape as shown in Fig. 9and has one arm connected to the member 39 which is in electricalconnection with the terminal 33 through the .'anchorage screw 32. Theother arm of the U-shaped thermostatic member/38 is connected by meansofthe member 40 tothe'base of the main switcharm 18.

It will thus be seen' that the parts are held inthe open circuit.position by the Aspring 22 as shown in Fig. 5' and also that ythe samespring 22 by virtue of the toggle like relation between the center ofthe lever 29 and the center off the arm .n 18 and the points ofconnection between the links 34 and .35 with said levers also holds theparts in V the closed circuit position of Fig. 6. AThe switch may beopened by moving the operating crank 13 anti-clockwise in which eventthe springs22 will move the switcharm 18 as soon as the joint 36 passesabove the lline,

' 'of centers.l The parts are also sidesigned that if the thermostaticelement38 is warped 'by the heating resistance developed by an headsetoverload that the member 38'will lift-the roller 37 into the positionshown in Fig. 7

pendently to vprotect various circuits without the need of any fuses. 'yIn some cases however itis desirable when one circuit is overloaded thattwo jor more lcircuit-s should be. opened vsubstantially simultaneously.Sucli a condition-may very readily be taken care of according to myinvention by. providing each rocker 29 with an extension or shoulder 41adapted to be engaged bythe link 34 when the circuit is thermostaticallyopened as shown in Fig 7. i

When the switch member 18 andspring 22 are thermostatistically releasedthe spring throws the links 34 and 35 so that-the link l34 strikesagainst the shoulder 41, and forces the. crank 13v counterclockwise asviewed in- Fig.- 7. This `automatic movebeen opened by overload in itsown circuit.

The spring 26 also assists in opening the circuit since thetip of thecontact 19 presses against the edge 'of the tip of the arm 18 just asthe circuit is being opened.

Preferably the switch units are mounted l.

in channelsf'in the insulating base so that insulating walls such as 42and 43 are located at the sides of the switch units to protect them'romeach other and from the casing or other possible current carryi In' theform shown in Fig. 4 t e insulatparts.

ing base 10 is shown as supported bybrackets 45 with the switch elements11 and 12 underneath the base instead ofon the outer surface as.previously described. Theloperation of the crank 13 and the 'switchunits hovever is the (siame in, llioth caselv.

n my co-pen in app ication o. 20 931 med Aprile, mai and described andclaimed the individual switch unit. f y

I claims 1. The combination of two switch units each having althermostatic member and a springl'for' automatically opening its owncircuit, a single crank for closing the cirhave more fully shown neas,

contact arm ajole link connecting said arm and lever, a ermostaticmember for" moving said link a spring" for moving said arm, and meansvor moving ,said lever automatically when saidY moves. A

3. An operating crank, two levers connected thereto, 4two contact arms,toggle` links connecting vsaid arms and levers, .a thermostatic memberfor opening the cir- 1 cuit through each arm andmeans of connec-v tionfor`releasin saidecrank and one lever and arm when t e other arm ismoved to 4. A 'combination switchr comprising" a hinged switch member, ahinged manually an open circuit position.

. operable member, a jointed togglelink conmeting said 'members and athermostatic 'member for moving saidv and releasing said lswitch member.

5. In an electric switch an o rating lever,

'a hinged switch arm, a doub e jointed tog'- gle connecting said leverand said arm and Va spring for throwing Asaid arm, a second sprnfcc-acting, between 'said tog le and said lever, sai lever having a soulder adapted to be engaged by said ltoggle and. a

'thermostatic element ,for operatmg said toggle. l

6.` The combination of a plurality of switch units each having athermostati'c member and .a spring for automatically opening its owncircuit, a single crank for closing the circuit through all f saidswitch units and means whereby the automatic opening of the circuit by'one of Asaid switch units will open the circuitthroughzthe otherswitchunits.

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL,

